Peninsula enterprise. [volume] (Accomac, Va.) 1881-1965, 1887-07-23
FORGIVEN AT LAST.


you own that you love me, and
yet you say YOU can never be my
wife. Tell me what yon mean, Ida9
The speaker Was Robert Wal
dron, fine looking youth oftwen-
ty; the person lie addressed cir
Of seventeen.
She was a fragile, fairy likeyoune
creature, with starry brown eyes,
chestnut colored hair, and a slender
yet we'll moulded figure.
On the white sand of one Of the
faraway Navigator Islands in the
Pacific ocean, near a group of tall
cocoanut trees, stood the twain,
holding each others hands, while
the light of the rising moon lay
like a broad sllvery pathway
athwart the wildness Of waters.
Waldron was a passenger, with
his father, aboard the American
ship Tempest, bound to the Sand
witch Islands.
a month previously the vesse
had been so badly damaged in &
storm that the captain was Obliged
to anchor off the Navigator Islands
for repairs.
Robert, wandering about one Of
the isles, came upon a small frame
house in a clearing IN the thicket
As.he had lost bis way, he Knocked
at the door.
A melancholy looking elderly
man answered the summons, gave
him the information he required
and invited him in.
There Robert first saw Ida Gray
the old mans daughter
1t is needless TO add that be
came many times after that.
He learned that the island had
been Ida's dwelling place for SIX
years, and that her mother had
died before she came to it.
What her parents motive was III
seeking this lonely abiding place
far away in the Pacific Ocean, SHE
could never guess.
Once she had questioned him
but it had seemed to trouble him
so much that she resolved not to dc
so again.
Tell me what you mean, Idai'
Robert repeated, as her eyes HIIet
with tears.
Because l can never desert
papa she sobbed.
You nee,l not desert him. criet
Robert, 'he can go with u.s.
no, he will not leave the island.
'Then l will stay here,' said the
young man. Il will build a house
here, and we will settle on the is
laud! | could be contented any
where with you
Ida frightened up at this.
60 and talk with papa about it,
she said.
Robert kissed her, and thel
went to her father.
The latter, who had shown Singh
lar emotion on seeing the youth
seemed still more agitated wher
Robert asked him for him for biz
daughter.
'Nor he cried, almost harshly
You, of all others. can never hav.
my child-at least not while live
1t may be selfish i'll me, but-but
could not bear it-you Of llothers
If l we're dead you might take hel
and welcome
Robert joined Ida and told hel
the result Of his application to he
father.
Ida saw, her parent not lons
after.
lDoyou love that manp lie asked
Yes, papa!' she sebbed.
And you really want himY'
'He wants me- was the womanl.
reply.
lie may have Mr.. Gray SAID il
hollow voice.
Good papa! Kind papa!'
Aud she threw herself on hi
breast.
When she was gone to bed ant
was asleep, he stole out of th'
house.
Swift was the current among
the rocks off a certain part of til,
island. Dir. Gray knew that h
who plunged deep in that place
might never come up again.
The under current would proba.
bly, carry the diver into some sub
terranean water cavern, whence h
could never e1tricate himself.
.Ah,' lie muttered, better dealt
to me at once than life long mis-
cry TO my child. He can neve
lave her while / live. ! could no
bear to look upon his face, as
would often be obliged to do If h
were her husband; for they wou.t